There was plenty of pizza, salad, and drinks consumed at our annual party and general meeting to celebrate the holidays and end the year. Elections were held, and Deb Hodson was elected as our new President along with Bob Malucelli as Vice President ,Diane Malucelli as Secretary , Ardie Jarrett as Membership Director , Rich Combs as Music Director, Paul Mack as Event Coordinator, and Chris Doan as Treasurer, for 2026. We sang Christmas Carols, told some jokes, and had a joyous time to bring in the coming year of 2026!

October 9, 2025

By Chris Doan

For the second time in 2025, the East Bay Banjo Club was invited To play at Kensington Center. Rick Winer came in from Fresno to join 11 others at the playout. Rick’s father lives there so was part of a great audience that really perked up and joined in singing many of the familiar tunes Associated with their younger years.

September 19, 2025

By Chris Doan

The club was invited to play at the Pleasant Hill Night Market as a result of practicing at Mountain Mike’s pizza. Paul Mack was introduced to the Night Market manager at a Tuesday night practice and arrangements were crafted and agreed to soon thereafter. The pictures were taken during our setup. We shared the “stage” with a rock band (an interesting mix) so we were pleased that the audience responded very enthusiastically to our music.

September 13 and 14

By Bud Pearce

Buddy Wachter sponsored a banjo workshop at the farm of John Green in Fiddletown, CA for anyone interested in Northern California. Two East Bay Banjo Players that attended were Bud Pearce and Tom Brunetti. The workshop was an intense learning experience for all the four string banjo players that attended. This was perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from the very best. Although Buddy has been out of the banjo circuit for a while, he remains one of the best known banjo players in the world and a member of the Banjo Hall of Fame!

The East Bay strummers were delighted to have the opportunity to perform for the Pleasant Hill Seniors Center barbecue. This group was perhaps the most enthusiastic we have seen in a long time. They sang, they danced, and reacted joyfully for virtually every song we performed. We received countless thanks and praise at the end of the performance.

Another fun and relaxing experience at Lander’s Landing! Plenty of food, great conversation, and banjo music was had by all. Many thanks to the Landers family for hosting this event every year. Clearly one of the premier events of the year!

By Chris Doan

June 22, 2025

Weather was perfect and everyone in attendance was in a party mood!

By Chris Doan

June 11, 2025

On a beautiful June afternoon at an annual ice cream social, 15 EBBC banjo players gathered to entertain the residents of Stoneman Village with our energetic music, with a patriotic emphasis. The pictures do not capture everyone so each is listed starting with Slavka Ruzicka, Rich Combs, Deb Hodson, Tom Brunetti, Bud Pearce, Dorothy Becker, Paul Mack, Don Granberg, Diane and Bob Malucelli, Ardi Jarrett,
Chris Doan, Yvonne Whitechurch, Zennie Bohn, and John Greitzer. We had a great time as did the Stoneman audience!

April 14, 2025

The EBBC performers were delighted to have the opportunity to perform for the Lamorinda Mover Group in Moraga at the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church. A large group gathered for dinner and to listen to the East Bay Banjo Club perform. The crowd seemed to get more excited as the evening went on. “The Saints Go Marching In” played at the end had them parading around the tables!

Participants included; Don Granberg, Paul Mack, Slavka Ruzicka, Bud Pearce, Chris Comb, Deb Hodson, Deborah Black, Dorothy Becker, Ardie Jarrett, Bob Malucelli, Diane Malucelli, and Tom Brunetti.

April 10, 2025

The East Bay banjo club was delighted to have the opportunity to perform for members of the Kensington Memory Care Group. The audience was very attentive and often reacted positively to our music. We were honored to have Rick Winer, a long-time member of the club, along with his Mom and Dad who participated as members of the performance and audience. The crowd definitely recognized and responded to those old American songs that we played.

Participants included Paul Mack, Slavka Ruzicka, Bud Pearce, Rich Comb (Music Director), Deb Hodson, Zennie Bohn, Yvonne Whitechurch, Dorothy Becker, Ardie Jarret, Diane Malucelli, Bob Malucelli, Tom Brunetti, and Rick Winer.

March 9, 2025

It was time to celebrate Bob Melachelli’s 80th birthday, even though he’d already been that age for several months. A small group of EBBC strummers performed for his invited guest and enjoyed quite a large feast and beverages provided by the Malachelli’s. The group was also entertained by Bob’s ukulele group which is why the outfit of the day was Hawaiian. Fun was had by all!

January 23, 2025

By: Bud Pearce

The East Bay Strummers performed at the Reutlinger Community Center on the second floor this year. In previous years, we were in the main dining area, but this year, we had to reposition to a smaller area on the second floor. Although we were somewhat delayed setting up, we still managed to entertain an enthusiastic group of residents.

The performs from left to right included Rich Comb (Director), Zennie Bohn, Yvonne Whitechurch, Paul Mack (MC), Bud Pearce, Slavka Ruzicka, Phil Myer, Lina Myer, Deb Hodson, (back row left to right) Bob Malucelli, Diane Malucelli, Don Granberg (keyboard), Tom Brunetti, John Greitzer (bass), and Dorothy Becker.

By Chris Doan

December 20, 2024

In its last playout of 2024 on December 20, the East Bay Banjo Club played to a standing room only crowd at The Kensington. The playlist included a mix of our year-round crowd favorites and a medley of Christmas songs. The Kensington audience were not hesitant to join us in song with the old favorites. Paul Mack did the honors as an emcee introducing the club and providing a brief background to each song played.

We were thirteen banjos strong for the playout including, from left to right, Dorothy Becker, Rich Combs (Music Director and Conductor), Ardi Jarrett, Deb Hodson, Chris Doan, Bud Pearce, John Greitzer (Bass), Slavka Ruzicka, Don Granberg (piano, washboard and banjo), Zennie Bohn, Paul Mack (MC), Yvonne Whitchurch and Tom Brunetti.

by Chris Doan

December 10,2024

On December 10, 2024 the Club hosted its annual Christmas Party at Mountain Mike’s Pizza with plenty of salad, pizza and drinks to add energy to the evening. There were a total of nearly 30 in attendance. When the food was gone, we broke out the banjos to play and sing some of our favorite music.

We also conducted a short annual business meeting for the purpose of electing the Club Directors and Leaders for 2025. Paul Mack did a nice job of developing a list of nominations

Our good friends at the Oakmont Senior Center in Concord invited us to perform a concert of good old-fashioned American music in their large, but elegant activity room. It was great returning to this facility that provided us a meeting place during the pandemic. The crowd was very excited to see us again. The standing-room-only crowd enthusiastically received our performance. We are certain we will be back again with some more fun and excitement.

The group, led by Rich Combs included, Dorothy Becker. Don Granberg. Bob Ehrhorn, Zennie Braun, Jack Convery. Chris Doan, Diane Maluchelli, Bob Maluchelli, Paul Mack, Slavka Ruzicka, Ardie Jarrett, and Bud Pearce.

Yet another successful summer picnic celebrated on the Delta at Lander’s Landing! Our hostess, Bobbie Landers, warmly welcomed the EBBC strummers to her deck for a rousing afternoon of food, banjo playing, singing, great conversation, and just all around fun! The club owes a debt of gratitude for the hospitality offered by Bobbie and her family.

May 24, 2024

In our first outdoor event of 2024, the East Bay Banjo Club played for the residents of the Stoneman Village in Pittsburg on May 24. The setting was an afternoon ice cream social on a delightful spring afternoon. The residents clearly enjoyed the music with several dancing and singing along for much of the hour. With Memorial Day just around the corner, we included the theme songs from each branch of the Armed Forces to honor the Veterans and their spouses in the crowd … and each stirred up patriotism amongst the residents.

There were 13 members of the Club who played and sang for the event including Rich Combs, Don Granberg, Paul Mack, Bob Ehrhorn, Tom Brunetti, Larry Risner, Slavka Ruziska, Zennie Bohm, Deb Hodson, Phil and Linda Myers, John Greitzer, and Chris Doan.